Yun Ruoxi remembered it very clearly.
On the system panel, the [Reputation] column originally displayed [Renowned Beauty (Appearance)].
But now, it had turned into two other “titles.”
The latter was easy to understand, but the former—
“Fragrant Perishes, Jade Falls” was clearly a phrase used to describe the early death of a beauty.
She was still alive and well; it had absolutely nothing to do with death.
Wait, unless—
A sudden flash of insight crossed Yun Ruoxi’s mind, and she finally understood the true meaning behind this change—Night
The news of the main Night Orchid bloodline being slaughtered by the Overlord had probably already spread!
Carefully calculating, it had already been fifteen months since that tragedy.
Given the speed at which information traveled within the Empire, most high-ranking officials should have known by now.
As the heir to the main bloodline, it was only natural for them to assume that she died that very night.
Once everyone believed she was gone, “Yun Ruoxi of the Night Orchid” truly ceased to exist.
Her reputation was thus sealed, like a verdict carved in stone.
A noble girl famed for her beauty, who fell before ever showing her true potential,
In the end, only the comment “Fragrant Perishes, Jade Falls” remained as her epitaph.
And as time passed,
Even this title would gradually fade, until she and the Night Orchid clan were utterly forgotten by the world.
“So, does this mean I’ve suffered Social Death?”
Yun Ruoxi’s face was full of sarcasm, and she let out a low chuckle.
Her laughter grew louder and more uncontrollable, her expression turning exaggerated.
She raised her hand to cover her forehead, shoulders trembling, even the corners of her eyes brimming with tears from laughing.
“So that’s it, I’m already dead, huh!”
Wiping away tears from her eyes, she muttered in a low voice, as if she’d just heard the world’s funniest joke.
Casually closing the system panel, she activated the medical device.
Pale blue liquid slowly flowed into the chamber.
Yun Ruoxi slowly closed her eyes.
“Let them go on believing that Night Orchid’s Yun Ruoxi is dead. Once I gain enough power for revenge, I will take back everything that belongs to me—”
“Everything of the Night Orchid clan!”
***
Four hours later.
Yun Ruoxi walked out of the medical chamber as if nothing had happened, as though she had long since left those thoughts behind.
She checked on Aili’s recovery, and after confirming that she would be fully healed before the Second Stage Assessment, she headed to the recovery room, using the field physiotherapy device to repair the mental tears caused by forcibly drawing on her bloodline powers.
Although her S-rank willpower had already healed most of the injuries, if she didn’t use the physiotherapy device to fully mend the tiny tears, it could still affect her performance in the upcoming assessment.
She spent five hours.
Yun Ruoxi climbed out of the device full of energy, then headed to the cafeteria for a hearty meal, restoring her body and mind to peak condition.
“Aili should be waking up soon.”
Estimating the time, Yun Ruoxi changed into a new trainee uniform and hurried off to the medical room, just in time to see Aili slowly sitting up in the medical device.
Aili sat there dazed.
Her torn trainee uniform was soaked through by the healing fluid, clinging tightly to her youthful, alluring figure.
It was less “a glimpse of spring” and more “everything laid bare.”
Fortunately, there was no one else in the medical room, so this enchanting scene wasn’t witnessed by others.
Yun Ruoxi quickly strode over and wrapped her in a towel she’d brought from the dormitory.
“Still a bit groggy? You’ve been asleep for more than half a day.”
The blonde girl turned her head, and when she saw Yun Ruoxi, a spark of light finally shone in her dazed emerald eyes.
“Big sis… Sister?”
“Mm, I’m here.” Yun Ruoxi smiled and gently dried her wet hair with the towel.
In truth, she didn’t need to do this—once the wind blew, the healing fluid on her would quickly evaporate on its own, but for some reason, she simply wanted to dry the hair of this stubborn girl, who reminded her so much of herself.
“Sister!”
Hearing Yun Ruoxi’s voice, Aili fully woke up.
She suddenly threw herself into Yun Ruoxi’s arms, her voice choked with sobs, and began to cry softly.
“I almost thought…
I’d never see you again.”
Where did this strange sense of déjà vu come from?
Yun Ruoxi felt a bit awkward, her movements freezing.
Her hand, which was about to ruffle Aili’s golden hair, paused and instead gently patted her on the back.
“All right, all right. Didn’t I come back alive?”
“That’s only thanks to you, Sister!” Aili quickly retorted, anxiously raising her head, “If you hadn’t helped me improve—”
“Ahem,” Yun Ruoxi coughed twice, interrupting, “There’s no need to say everything so plainly.”
Aili was startled at first, then suddenly understood, her emerald eyes blinking as she grinned mischievously:
“Got it! But without those weapons, I definitely wouldn’t have made it out of the Misty Forest.”
As she spoke, she hugged Yun Ruoxi again, nuzzling her head hard into the petite girl’s arms, then took a deep breath, her expression reverent as if performing some sacred ritual.
After surviving the First Stage Assessment, this brush with death seemed to have left Aili especially excited today, making her do things she normally never would—like such an overly intimate gesture.
If it were before, as soon as Aili did something like this, Yun Ruoxi would have pressed her head down and “smacked” it right against the medical pod.
But this time—
Perhaps having also faced a life-and-death trial herself, Yun Ruoxi was more able to understand this surge of emotion, or perhaps her earlier realization about “Social Death” had left her feelings unusually complicated.
She actually let it slide, only muttering helplessly, “Aren’t you worried it’s uncomfortable?”
Yun Ruoxi was well aware of her own flat figure; Aili’s last nuzzle was no different from snuggling up to an iron board.
She reached out and pushed Aili’s head away.
“Xiao Ai, come on, be normal for a bit. Why don’t you tell me about your assessment experience instead?”
“Okay!” Aili took a deep breath and, still hugging Yun Ruoxi tightly, began to recount her experience in the assessment.
Compared to Lin Zhen and Yun Ruoxi’s own twists and turns, filled with danger and excitement,
Aili’s experience seemed simpler, but was no less perilous.
For the first few days, she didn’t find any weapon supplies, nor did she manage to snatch any of the food drops.
Though this allowed her to avoid the rations trap, it nearly caused her to starve to death.
It wasn’t until the fifth day that she finally found a weapon supply in a tree, and, relying on her solid knowledge of weaponry, she managed to repair a Long Spear capable of emitting powerful electric currents and dazzling flashes—a weapon she had even used as a crutch.
Only then did she realize Yun Ruoxi’s good intentions, and so, after surviving against all odds, she became so emotional.
After obtaining the Long Spear, Aili’s assessment gradually became smoother. She managed to snatch a food drop, discovered more weapon supplies, and repaired several pieces of equipment.
At this point, she picked up the equipment Yun Ruoxi had left for her by the medical pod and demonstrated proudly, beaming like a child showing off her toys.
Given her physical and mental age, calling her a child wasn’t too far off.